FIELD SPORTS IN THE ARMY 



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ties of the various posts have something 

 to do with the kind of spoils indulged 

 in by the men, but most depends at 

 present upon the personal beliefs of the 

 post commanders. At some posts wrest- 

 ling and boxing are absolutely pro- 

 hibited, while at others they are en- 

 couraged. Even bull fighting has been 

 permitted to be a part of a field day 

 program at some of the military posts 



field sports in every Department might 

 be held, provided that such tournaments 

 are hot held at the expense of the gov 

 eminent. But one can hardly under- 

 stand why tbe men should be compelled 

 to draw upon their private funds in or 

 der to promote wider contests of field 

 sports that ultimately work for the 

 good of the government. So enthusias- 

 tically, however, have some of the posts 



OVER THE WALL AND AWAY 



in the southwest. An effort should be 

 made to have the sports more uniform. 

 Then, too, a good-natured rivalry 

 should be promoted between the various 

 posts and departments. The men should 

 be encouraged to take part in the con- 

 tests of posts other than the one to 

 which they are attached, and the time 

 they are away from their own posts 

 should not be considered as a furlough. 

 Secretary Elihu Root has given his ap- 

 proval of such contests by advocating a 

 system whereby annual tournaments of 



taken up the work that, regardless 

 of the expense, they have held fre- 

 quent inter-post contests. For several 

 years New York has had an organiza- 

 tion known as the New York Harbor 

 Army Athletic League, which has done 

 much to advance army athletics, its ob- 

 ject being "to initiate, encourage and 

 foster athletics in all posts and between 

 all posts which are members of the 

 league." The success of this league had 

 much to do with the success of the 

 splendid military tournament held at 



